Volunteers from Amazon Web Services, the Umatilla County Fair and the Arbor Day Foundation plant shade trees July 11, 2024, at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center in Hermiston.

HERMISTON — The city of Hermiston worked with more than 30 volunteers from Amazon Web Services, the Umatilla County Fair, and the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 40 trees Thursday, July 11, at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center in Hermiston.

“The collaboration among AWS, Arbor Day Foundation and Hermiston Parks and Recreation to plant 10 trees at Horizon Park this spring was so positive, we decided to do it again in the canopy drought area at EOTEC,” Hermiston Parks and Recreation Director Brandon Artz said in a press release. “These trees will provide high value shade during the fair season and other outdoor activities.”

Volunteers planted red maple, red oak and village green zelkova strategically throughout the main concourse at EOTEC to provide shade to the grounds while leaving room for vendors to set up their booths, with guidance and participation from the Umatilla County Fair.

“The Arbor Day Foundation is dedicated to helping our local planting partners unlock the transformative power of trees in their community,” Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, said in the press release. “Trees clean our air, cool our cities and improve the lives of the people around them. We’re happy to help the city of Hermiston maximize the impact of their urban canopy and inspire more people to engage with nature in a meaningful way.”

Trees offer vast benefits for the community at large, according to the city. Thriving urban forests bolster human health, from encouraging physical activity to reducing respiratory illnesses stemming from air pollution. Urban trees remove pollution, which improves a city’s overall air quality, and reduce runoff of sediment, pollutants and organic matter into streams, improving our water quality. Trees also have been shown to reduce crime, lower stress levels and develop community pride, according to the city’s press release.

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. Together with its partners, the foundation helped plant more than 500 million trees in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. More information is available at arborday.org.